Lumen-traveling biological interface device and method of use

• US 8,660,642 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Hillis, W. Daniel, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Jung, Edward K. Y., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US13/135,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20110275880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Lumen-traveling biological interface devices and associated methods and systems are described. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices capable of traveling within a body lumen may include a propelling mechanism to produce movement of the lumen-traveling device within the lumen, electrodes or other electromagnetic transducers for detecting biological signals and electrodes, coils or other electromagnetic transducers for delivering electromagnetic stimuli to stimulus responsive tissues. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices may also include additional components such as sensors, an active portion, and/or control circuitry.

Claims

1. A method of emplacing a neural stimulation device, comprising:

causing an untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site;

detecting with a sensor on the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree;

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure;

upon detecting the branch point, causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to enter the branch leading toward the target site;

causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site; and

delivering a neural stimulus at the target site.

2. The method of claim 1, including introducing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device into the body tube tree of a subject.

3. The method of claim 1, including causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to engage a wall of the body tube tree at the target site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the body tube tree is a vascular system of the subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the body tube tree is a respiratory tract of the subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the body tube tree is a CSF-space of the subject.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a control system located at least in part on the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a chamber of a heart of the subject.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a brain of the subject.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a spinal canal of the subject.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a gastrointestinal tract of the subject.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a urogenital system of the subject.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a musculature of the subject.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the neural stimulus includes delivering an electrical stimulus.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the neural stimulus includes delivering a magnetic stimulus.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the neural stimulus includes delivering an optical stimulus.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the neural stimulus includes delivering a chemical stimulus.

18. The method of claim 1, including selecting a target site in proximity to a stimulation target.

19. The method of claim 1, including selecting the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device by selecting an untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device sized to fit within the target site.

20. The method of claim 1, including selecting the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device from an assortment of untethered self-propelling neural stimulation devices of different sizes.

21. The method of claim 1, adjusting the size of the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to fit within the target site.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a remote portion.

23. The method of claim 1, including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by causing at least a portion of the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to expand to form a pressure fit with the wall of the body tube tree.

24. The method of claim 1, including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by releasing an adhesive material from the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device.

25. The method of claim 1, including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by extending at least one claw or barb-like structure from the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to penetratingly engage the wall of the body tube tree.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site by engaging the wall of the body tube tree at the target site.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site by discontinuing propulsion of the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site by applying a force to oppose propulsion of the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device.

29. The method of claim 1, including causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to resume traveling.

30. The method of claim 1, including carrying at least one additional neural stimulation device with the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording bioelectromagnetic activity from the target site with the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure, comprises:

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, or an index of refraction.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure, comprises:

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, and a presence or absence of a chemical.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure, comprises:

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting a man-made structure.

35. A method of emplacing a neural stimulation device, comprising:

causing an untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within a CSF-space of a subject toward a target site;

detecting with a sensor on the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device a branch point including two or more branches within the CSF-space;

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a fluid flow, a direction of fluid flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure;

upon detecting the branch point, causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to enter the branch leading toward the target site;

causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site; and

delivering a neural stimulus at the target site.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a fluid flow, a direction of fluid flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure, comprises:

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, or an index of refraction.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a fluid flow, a direction of fluid flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure, comprises:

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of a pressure, a temperature, a fluid flow, a direction of fluid flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, and a presence or absence of a chemical.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a fluid flow, a direction of fluid flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure, comprises:

selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting a man-made structure.